Sambo wrestling is a Russian martial art that originated in the Soviet Union and was taught to special forces soldiers. The word "SAMBO" is an English translation of a Russian acronym that stands for "self-defense without weapons." Sambo wrestling incorporates moves from many martial arts, including Karate, Aikido and Jujitsu. It requires strength, speed, agility and flexibility. The sport places strong emphasis on physical fitness; those who compete in Sambo are well-conditioned athletes.
Total Body Strength Training
Wrestling engages every muscle in the body, particularly the muscles of the back and core regions. When you are wrestling an opponent in a Sambo match, you are using your large muscles for explosive bursts of strength and your small, stabilizing muscles to maintain balance and coordination. Although Sambo teaches many techniques that can be used to take down or submit a larger, stronger opponent, a match can still be won or lost due to sheer physical strength.
Flexibility and Agility
Sambo wrestlers must be quick, agile and flexible. You must have a great deal of flexibility in your arms, legs and torso to place your opponent in the many holds used for submission. You must also rely on flexibility to escape these same holds. Stretching is an important aspect of Sambo training and wrestlers will typical stretch for several minutes before and after a training session or match.
Cardiovascular Benefits
A Sambo match can last between up to six minutes depending on the level at which you compete. This may not seem like a long time, but when you consider that you are using the largest muscle groups in your body and pushing them to their limits for the full duration of the match, the cardiovascular benefits are akin to sprinting and mounting biking. While you are wrestling, your heart rate is spiking for long periods and then decreasing during short rest periods. During a match, a wrestler's heart rate can fluctuate between 140 to 170 beats per minute.
Discipline
Like all forms of martial arts, Sambo wrestling teaches discipline. It takes years to master all of the moves used in Sambo wrestling and to be a successful Sambo wrestler, you must train several hours a day, five days a week. You must also discipline your body in all of the areas of physical conditioning required to execute the moves proficiently and posses the physical endurance to compete in a match. Mental endurance is also important during a Sambo match; wrestlers are trained to remain calm and think clearly when they are in a submission hold that could cost them the match.
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